Computing-machine.



No. 885,522. PATENTED APR. 21. 1908.

i Y R. VON RBPPERT.

COMPUTING MACHINE. APBLIOATION FILED JULY 1.1907.

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No. 885,522. PATENTED APR. 21, 1908'. R. VON RBPPBRT.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 1, 1907.v

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I7@ ve MSM/ No. 885,522. PATENTED APR. .21,7 1908. R. VON REPPERT.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l, 1907.

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No. 885,522. PATENTBDAPR. 21, 1908.

R. VON RBPPBRT.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l, 1907.

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R..VON REPPERT. GOMPUTINGMAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 19o?.

PATENTED APR. 21, 1908.

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No. 885,522. PATENTBD' APR. 21, 1208. 11.11011 REPPERT.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1 1 907 15 SHEETS-SHEET 7 PATENTED APR. 2l, 1908. y R. VON REPPERT. y COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 1. 1907.

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PATNTED APR. 21, 1908.

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COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l, 1907.

No, 885,522. PATENI'ED APR. 21, 1908.

R. VGN REPPERT.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 1. 1907.

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PATBNTBD APR. 21, 1908.

V'R'. VON- REPPERT. COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 197.

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R. VON REPPERT. COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l, 1907.

No. 885,522. PATENTED APR.y 21, 1908.

15 SHEBTSSHEBT 12.

N0.885,522. Y PATENTND APN. 21, 1908.

R. VON NNPPNNT. COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1,1907.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

l' ll' lave n? TM5 NaRms PETERS cc., wAsHxNGToN, D. c,

No. 885,522. PATENTED APR. 21, 1908.

R. VON REPPBRT.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l, 1907.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 14.

1HE MORRIS PETERS cul, wAsHlNai'cN. l:4 a

No. 885,522. PATENTED APR. 21, 1908. R. VON REPPERT.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY l, 1907.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 15.

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RICHARD VON REPPERT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COMPUTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 1907.

Patented April 2]., 1908.

Serial No. 381,635.

ing the digits O to t 9 inclusive, the keys to be operated an equal distance and offering equal resistance, to induce movement of certain elements in proportion to the digits of the respective keys operated; to provide a machine having ten digits keys arranged to release certain elements and to limit the movement of said elements in proportion to ythe keys operated; said elements being entirely free to move until stopped, to thereby facilitate rapid succession of key operations 3 to provide a machine in which certain elements are moved proportionally by the operation of digit keys to represent an item, and having iigures to show the item for the inspection of the operator; to so arrange the parts that the operation of setting the item mechanism to indicate an item will simultaneously position the item mechanism in proper cooperative relation to the totalizing mechanism preparatory to the entering' of said item into the totalizing mechanism; to provide a key locking device whereby, during the operation of one key, all other keys are locked 3 to provide for the rewinding of the carriage escapement spring during the initial stroke of the item lever and by direct application of manual power, to said spring; to provide a machine arranged to be operatedv for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, to provide an item retaining device adapted to be actuated during the operation of division and multiplication, to retain an item in the item mechanism for successive subtraction or addition; to provide a register adapted to be operated during the operation of division and multiplication, to register the 'figures comprising the quotient or the multiplier, respectively; to provide a dividing key to be used during operation for division, to move the divisor to the right for successive subtraction; to provide a totalizing mechanism of positive function throughout, which is positively locked in all positions, and is reversible for subtraction, all parts beingpermanently operatively connected and no resilient elements being employed to move parts or lock parts; thereby eliminating the possibility of an error; to provide a machine having an item mechanism and two totalizing mechanisms, each of said totalizing mechanisms being arranged to be operated for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; to provide for the connection of either or both of said totalizing mechanisms with said item mechanism to permit a variety of useful combinations, for instance: to operate one totalizing mechanism for multiplication and the other for adding the products of said multiplication, as in billing g or, to add a column of items of two totals, or subtract the same from two totals;

.or simultaneously add an item to one total and subtract same from the other total 5 to provide a printing mechanism arranged to be connected to and disconnected from the computing machine proper; to provide a machine having a printing mechanism and two totalizing mechanisms, each totalizing mechanism being arranged to be actuated for addition and subtraction, and to provide connections whereby the item entered into either of said totalizing mechanisms may be printed, to provide a machine having a printing mechanism, two totalizing mechanisms, and a clearing device for each totalizing mechanism, to provide connections to clear said totalizing mechanisms separately or jointly, and to connect the printing mechanism with either of said totalizing mechanisms; to provide .a printing mechanism, having type embossed on metal strips, to thereby reduce the number of parts and the mass in motion to provide an operating lever having a speed regulator and a shock guard to avoid shocks to the parts actuated by said lever, and to regulate the speed with which the lever can be actuated in either direction; and to provide a machine having a secondary item indicator, to retain and show the last item entered into the machine; and other objects hereinafter more fully appearing.

The invention consists in the parts, and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described. and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, and wherein'like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure fl is a side elevation of the machine with a portion of the outer casing removed Fig. 2 is a detail view of the speed regulator; Fig. 3 is a view partly in side ele- 3 essaies vation and partlv in longitudinal section: Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view ot the item mechanism: Fig. 5 is a detail of a limit stop; Fig. (5 is a plan view partlv in seet-ion and with parts removed; F T is a front elevation with parts i'emoved: Fig. S is a rear elevation with parts removed: Figs. 9 to Il, inclusive, are enlarged detail views ot portions of the item mechanism: Figs. l5 to 17, inclusive, are detail views oi the item earriage oscillating device: Fig. 1S is a` view ol the right side plate ol the item carriage; Fig. i9 is a i'ront view of the totalizing mechanism with parts removed: Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail view showing a portion ol the item mechanism operativelv connected with a totalizing mechanism: Fig. '2l is a. detail view showing the lower totalizing mechanism in normal position g Fig. 22 is a detail view showing the upper totalizing mechanism in set position: .F 23 is a iragmentarv plan view of' a totalizing mechanism; Fig. 24 is a detail view ol the set mechanism and the actuating mechanism of a totalizer; Fig. is a detail view ot the restoring device of a totalizer: Fig. 2' is a detail view ot a lock pawl; Fig. 2T is a detail view ot a release lever; Figs. 2S and 2) are details ot an adjusting device for a totalizer; Fig. 30 is a side elevation ot' thc lett side plate; Fig. 3]. is an edge view of said lett side plate: Fig. 32 is a detail view of the connections for the secondarv item indicator: Fig. 33 is a detail view ot the secondarvitem indicator: Figs. 34 and 35 are detail views of a tvpe-bar ot the printing device: Figs. 3G and 37 are detail views ot the clearing devices tor the respective totalizing mechanisms; Figs. 38 and 39 are detail views ot the item lever shock guard device: Fig. 40 is a detail view ot the set mechanism cams detached trom a totalizing wheel: Fig. 4l is a detail view ot the respective totalizing mechanism actuating cams; Fig. 42 is a detail view ot the totalizing mechanism restoring cams; Figs. i3 to l5, inclusive, are detail views of a clearing pinion and its respective total wheel: Fig. t6 is a detail view of a limiting device for a totalizing mechanism; Fig. 47 is a detail view ot an item wheel clearing sector and its respective actuating gear; Fig. 4S is a detail view ot the licv loch device; Fig. -iQ is a schematic view showing the upper totalizing mechanism connected lor addition`; and, Fig. 50 is a schematic view showing the lower totalizing mechanism connected for H subtraction.`

The present machine comprises an item mechanism adapted to be set bv manuallv operable lievs, a totalizing mechanism into which the item is transferred 'from the item mechanism and connections wherebv the transfer oli the item is made to periorm the operation ol'A addition, subtraction, multiplication or division7 as desired. It also comprises a printing mechanism which. is associated with the other operating parts ol' the machine in such a manner as to print all o'l" the numbers involved in the various calculations and all ol the entries required in billing accounts.

tem mechanism.-lpon the base plate 'l ot the machine are mounted uprights 2 in which is journalcd` a shatt 3. (See Figs. l andv 12%.) livotallv mounted on said sha'tt is a 'trame consisting ot an elongated sleeve l `iournaled on said shatt and havingl arms 5 and 6, respcctivelv, projecting radiallv therefrom. The sleeve portion 4; ot said 'trame extends nearlv the 'lull length ot said shaft and constitutes a support ior a second sleeve T which is arranged to slide lengthwise thereoll and which constitutes a member ot the carriage trame ol the item mechanism. This last mentioned sleeve 7 carries two transverselv arranged side plates S and 9, respectivelv, which are connected bv a tubular tie member l()7 which in turn Vtirs over and slides upon a supporting rod l l. provided therefor in the iirst mentioned tra me. Fivotally mounted upon this tubular tie member l() are a series ot item wheels l2 each ot which is rotatable separablv. Each ot'A the item wheels has a spiral spring 13, which is lixed at one. end to the item wheel and at the other end to a bar l-l mounted on the side pla-tes ot the carriage trame. The item wheels l2 are normallv held against the action ot their spring bv means ot detents 1.5 pivotallv mounted on a rod i6 supported in the side plates ot the carriage frame and engaging ratchet teeth i7 formed on the peripherv ol. the item wheels. Bv this arrangement` anv item wheel which is disengaged trom its detent is rotated b v its individual spring. rThe rotation ot the item wheel continues until a shoulder or projection i8 on the item wheel strikes against a limiting stop provided Alior the purpose. Frelerablv, the limiting stops are movable pins or pieces lt) arranged to be set or positioned bv the operator. ln the construction shown in Fig. i, the number ot limiting stops is one less than the number ot" lievs on the lievboard. These stops are connected through intermediate devices with their respective lievs and the several stops are so positioned as to make the movement ot the item wheel proportional to the digits represented bv the several liehvs.

(tz/'ridge facupement-The lateral movement ot the carriage is etiected step bv step, bv means ot a spring which is permitted to act through an escapement mechanism. which escapement in turn is arranged to be released step bv step bv the liev mechanism. This escapement mechanism comprises a plate 20 mounted to slide verticallv on. a housing 2l which is iixedv on the base plate l ot the machine. (See Figs. t) and 10.) .ln

order to permit said plate to slide it is provided with one or more verticallv elongated slots 22 through which extend headed screws into the side of said housing. Said plate 20 is normally held in its lowermost position. by means of a tension spring se which pulls it down until the upper end of the slots 22 hear against the securing screws. Said plate is )rovided with a pin 24 projecting from the 'face thereof and with a tooth or detent 25 projecting` from the edge thereof. Said tooth 25 is normally held in position to normally clear the teeth of a ratchet wheel 26 which is loosely mounted on a shaft 27 that is journaled in brackets or uprights 28 and 2), respectively, mounted. on the hase plate 1 of they machine, but when 'the plate is raised, said tooth engages with a tooth of said ratchet wheel 2G. Pivotally mounted on the side plate of said housing is a downwardly extending pawl 30 which is normally pressed by a spring 31 into engagement with said ratchet wheel 26. The lower end of this pawl has an elongated slot 322, the upper edge of which lies across the path of the pin 24 on the plate 20.

. rThe ratchet wheel is provided with a spiral spring fixed thereto at one end and fixed at its other end to the housing 21. In consequence of this arrangement, the upward movement of the plate 20 causes its pin 24 to hear against the upper inclined side of the slot of the pawl 30. At the same time, a tooth ot said ratchet is disengaged from its locking pawl so that the spring 33 is ineffect# ive to rotate said ratchet wheel. )uring the downward movement of said plate 20, the ratchet wheel follows the tooth on said plate, but hefore the ratchet wheel is disengaged from said tooth, the lock pawl engages the next succeeding tooth of said wheel. Thus, for each recimocation of the plate, the ratchet wheel is rotated a single step or tooth. The movement of the. ratchet wheel thus permitted is transmitted to the item carriage hy the following means: Fixed on the end of the shaft 27 (see Fig. 10) upon which the ratchet wheel is loosely mounted is a gear wheel 34 which meshes with an intermediate gear 35 fixed on a shaft 3G which is journaled in the uprights 28 and 29, and which meshes with a raci 37 formed on the under side of the sleeve 7 of the carriage frame, ln order to transmit motion from the ratchet wheel i@ that is loose on the shaft 27 and the gear that is xed on. said shaft, the shaft has a i'iotched disk $38 fixed thereon, and the huh of the ratchet wheel is provided with a disk 239 carrying a spring-pressed pawl 4() which bears against the periphery of the 'first mentioned disk 3S so as to cooperate with the notch or shoulder thereon By this arrangement, the item carriage is moved laterally step by step past the item setting mechanism, each step bringing a new item wheel into operative relation with the item setting mechanism and. increasing` the numher of the order of the figure in the completed item.

The carriage escapement is operatively connected to all ot' the digit keys so as to be actuated whenever any of the digit keys is manipulated. The release plate 20 of the escapement mechanism has a recess 41 in its side through which projects the end of a rock arm 42. (See Figs. 4 and. 9.) Fixed to the shaft 43 of the rock arm 42 is a second arm 44 which is connected by a cross rod 45 to an arm 46 that is pivotally mounted on the same axis with said shaft. The cross rod 45 is operatively connected to all of the digit key bars, as for instance, by extending' througl'i the recesses 47 in the lower edge thereof. 'lhe key bars in turn are arranged to he manipulated by the keys as hereinafter described.

Dir/fit keg/S and lode-There is one key bar 48 for each of the digit keys and they are arranged to slide horizontally. The several digit keys 49 (see Fig. 4) are pivotally mounted on a shaft 50 and each has a .projection 51 arranged to cooperate with a notch or groove 52 on the top edge of its respective key har 48. Each of the digit keys 49 is provided with a reciprocating spring 53.

Each of the digit keys has an extension 54 which is provided with a slot of peculiarv shape and so designed as to prevent the manipulation of a second key before a previously operated key is returned to its normal position. This slot comprises three portions, namely, an elongated radial portion 55 from whose upper end an eccentric portion 56 extends rearwardly and downwardly and the eccentric portion terminates in a circular portion 57 concentric with the axis of the key levers. The slots of the several key levers are in alinement an d through them extends a cross bar 58 which is mounted upon elongated'pivotal arms 59 and is normally held in its uppermost position hy means of a spring 60. In consequence of the form of the slot in the key lever extensions, the manipulation of the key levers has the effect of bearing the front edge of the eccentric portion of the slot against said cross rod, causing said cross rod to move downwardly to the bottom of the elongated radial portion of the slots in all ot the other key levers. 1n this position, the rearward side of' the slot prevents the manipulation of any other key.

tem whecZaThere are as many similar item wheels as the highest order of a number the machine is intended to operate upon. The machine shown has nine item wheels and is intended to operate uponnumhers of any oi der up to the ninth. Each item wheel 12 (see Figs. 4 and 13) is provided with ratchet teeth 1.7 over about one third of its periphery and with gear teeth 61 extending over about one third of its periphery and with a iiange 62 which extends over the remaining portion of the periphery and upon which numbers are placed. At the end of said flange is the out-tuiiied portion or projection 18 intended to cooperate with the limiting stops 19 hereinafter described. The numbers on the item wheels serve to show the item set up, as will be explained below. Each of the item wheels is provided with a spiral spring 13 which is connected at one end to the item wheels and at the other end to a bar 14 arranged parallel with the shaft and hereinafter referred to as the spring bar. Tn order to accommodate this bar, the several item wheels are skeletonized or have concentric slots 63 cut therein to permit the bar to extend therethrough. ln the normal position of the item wheels, the end of the slots bear against the spring bar 14 which thus serves to limit or position the item wheels. The springs 13 tend to turn the itein wheels out of their normal position. The item wheels are held in their normal positions by means of the detents 15 of which there is one for every item wheel, and which detents are held in engagement with the wheels by springs 64.

Item wheel release-To release the detents which hold the item wheels in their normal positions and permit rotation of the item wheels by their springs, the Jfollowing means are provided: A laterally extending portion of the upright frame of the item mechanism has a plate 65 mounted thereon to recipi'ocate vertically. For this purpose, the plate is provided with vertically (see Fig. 4) elongated slots 66 through which extend headed bolts or screws, which serve to mount it in place and act as guides therefor. The upper end of this plate is in position to bear against each of the detents of the item wheels in turn when the item carriage is moved laterally, but normally said plate is held in its lower position out of engagement with said detents by a spring 67. The detent-releasiiig plate has a recess in its lower end in which is seated one end of a bell-crank lever 68 upon whose other end is mounted a cross-rod 69 which normally lies transversely of the key bars in position to be actuated by projections 70 thereon. Each of these hey bars, with the exception of the Zero key bar, is provided with such a projection.

[tem wheel Ziontting device-To set an item wheel to indicate any given digit it is rotated through an angle which is proportional to the amount of the digit. The amount of rotation of the item wheels is determined by the seiics of stops 19 which are controlled by the key levers. (See Fig. 4.) The item wheels successively move into the plane of the series of stops as the carriage moves from right to left. Each item wheel has a radial projection 1S at the lower end of its flange which projects far enough to engage any one of the stops which may be moved out of its normal position. The stops are small plates mounted. in a curved blocli 71 concentric with the item wheels (see Fig. l). There are nine stops, one for each digit except zero, and they are spaced apart an angular distance equal to the angular movement of the item wheels when rotated one tooth. The stops are moved into the path of the projection of the item wheel by the hey levers by means of intervening connecting devices. A bracket or upright 72 is provided with series of offset seats 73, one foi each key lever representing a digit. Upon said upright are pivoted a series of levers 74, one for each stop and key bar 4S. Each key bar representing a digit, except the zero key bar, is provided with an upwardly extending projection 75 in which is a recess 76 which constitutes a seat for the end of the corresponding lever. The upper ends of the respective levers pass through slots or recesses 19 provided therefor in the outer ends of the limit plates 19.

peratt'on of setting up an item--The operation of setting up an item is as follows: Assume the number to be set up to be 905. At the beginning of the operation the item. wheels stand. with ends of their slots 63 bearing against the spring bar 14 and with the Zero visible through the inspection panel. All of the limiting plates are retracted and the first item wheel at the left is in the vertical plane thereof. The detent of said item wheel, that is, the lirst item wheel at the left, is vertically above the detent disengagiiig plate. The eseapement spring is wound up and the escapement pawl 30 is in engagement with the ratchet wheel 26, and the escapement disengaging plate is in its loweimost position.

Tn setting up the item, the keys are to be operated just as if the numbers were to be written on the typewriter. Therefore, the 9 key will be operated i'irst. First, the 9 keymoves downwardly, its projection 54 bears the key bai' forwardly and the recess on the upper edge of the key bar 4S oscillates its lever 74 to press its limiting plate 19 inwardly into the path of the projection 18 on the item wheel. At the same time the forward movement of the key bar, acting against the cross rod 45 of the arms 44 and 46, oscillates the shaft 43 and through it the rock arm 42V. The rocking of the rock arm lifts the escapement disengaging plate 2O so as to simultaneously bring its tooth 25 into position to engage with the ratchet wheel and cause its pin 24 to bear against the lock pawl 3() and disengage said lock pawl from the ratchet wheel 26. Then the escapeinent disengaging plate goes back to its lower position, the spring of the ratchet wheel forces said ratchet wheel to follow for a space of one tooth. This movement of the ratchet wheel cairies with it the disk 39 fixed to it and the movement of said disk is transmitted through the pawl 40 fixed to said dish to the notched disk 88 which is iixed to the shaft 27 of the gear wheel 34. The gear wheel is thus rotated through the space of one tooth and its movement is transmitted to the intermediate gear sleeve 7 of the carriage. At the same time, the forward movement of the key bar causes the tilting of the bell-crank lever 68 so as to raise the end thereof which cooperates with the detent disengaging plate 65. The lifting of the detent disengaging plate causes the upper end thereof to bear against the detent 15 of the first item wheel to the left, that is to say, the item wheel which is in the plane of the limiting plates 19. The disengaging of the detent from the item wheelpermits the spring 13 of the item wheel 12 to rotate said wheel, and this rotation continues until the radial projection 18 on the periphery of said item wheel strikes against the limiting plate that had been set by the digit key, that is to say, the item wheel, in the example cited, rotates through nine spaces and is stopped by the plate corresponding to the 9 key. During this operation, all of the digit keys with the exception of the ""9 key, are locked against manipulation by reason of the eccentric portion of the slot of the 9 key having pushed the locking rod downwardly into the bottom of the radial portion of the slots of all of the other digit keys.

The result of the operation just mentioned is that the first item wheel to the left has been rotated through nine unit spaces, and the entire item carriage has traveled one space to the left so as to bring the second itemv wheel into the plane of the limiting plates, and in other respects all of the parts are in normal position. As the normal position is the zero position, it only remains to shift the carriage one step to the left without any rotation of the item wheel. For this purpose, the zero key is depressed and it causes the same locking operation and transmits movement to the escapement mechanism in the same way as above explained with reference to the actuation of the 9 key. As there is no occasion to rotate the item wheel, however, the Zero key bar is not provided with an operative connection with the rock lever 68 which actuated the detent disengaging plate. Consequently, the item wheel remains in its normal position while the item carriage moves bodily one step to the left leaving all of the parts otherwise in normal position, bringing the third item wheel into the plane of the limiting plates and leaving all of the other parts otherwis: in normal position. The .5 key is now manipulated causing exactly the same actuae tions and operations as in the case of the 9 key except of course that instead of the limiting plate corresponding to the digit 9, the limiting plate corresponding to the digit 5 is actuated to limit the rotatory movement of the third item wheel.

Escapcmcnt spr/tag rewtndingrAs stated above, the item carriage is moved laterally `35 and thence to the rack 37 formed on the l by the power furnished by the spring 38.

This spring is rewound during the initial stroke of the item lever 77 (see hig. 1) whereby manual power is utilized instead of depending upon the power of a retracting spring. For this purpose, the following mechanism is provided. Upon the periphery of the disk 39 bears a spring actuated pawl 7S (see Fig. 11) which is mounted upon the face of a gear wheel 7 9, whereby the rotation of the gear wheel engages the pawl against a shoulder SO on said disk 39 and thereby causes the rotation of said disk and of the ratchet wheel 26 to which it is fixed. The gear wheel 79 is fixed to or is integral with a bevel gear 81 loosely mounted on the shaft. This bevel gear meshes with a second bevel gear 82 integral with the gear wheel 83 that is loosely mounted on a stud or short spindle that is mounted in the uprights 29 above mentioned. This last mentioned gear wheel S3 meshes with agear wheel 84 (see Figs. 6 and 7) fixed on a shaft 85 that is journaled in the right side plate and in the up right 2 that is located at the right side of the machine. This last mentioned gear 84 meshes with a sector 86 that is fixed on a shaft 87 that is journaled in said last mentioned upright 2 and bracket 29 and carries a second sector 88 which is located in the plane of the end of the item lever and meshes with a sector S9 formed thereon. By this arrangement, a continuous train extends from the rack or sector on the end of the item lever to the gear wheel which carries the pawl that rides in the periphery of the disk which is fixed to the ratchet wheel of the escapement and to which the spring is fixed. In the normal operation of the device, the item carriage actuating spring moves the shoulder 80 of the disk 39 step by step towards the pawi on the gear wheel 79. When the item lever is manipulated said pawl is moved forwardly against the shoulder on the disk and causes the rewinding of said spring.

Clearing of tcm wheels-The item lever comprises two members 77 a and 77b which normally operate as a unit. (See Figs. 1 and 6.) This lever is pivotally mounted in brackets 90 on the base 1 of the machine. The front member 77a is arranged to be depressed and the rear member 77b terminates in the gear sector 89. This second sector 89 engages the sector 88 mounted on the shaft 87 journaled in brackets 2 and 29. A main spring 91 is suitably mounted in a housing 92 and one end is affixed to said shaft 87 and the other end to the said housing. The function of this spring is to retract the lever to normal position after same has been depressed. 

